Checking In With Anthony Bourdain; The Legendary Chef & Travel Writer’s Favourite Hotels

Anthony Bourdain has stayed at hundreds of hotels across his lifetime. Whether it’s for work in front of the camera for No Reservations, A Cook’s Tour, or The Layover—as well as for the books of the same name—or for pleasure, there’s no denying Bourdain has enjoyed a life well lived. Prioritising travel, culture, and the culinary arts in equal measure, you can be sure that an Anthony Bourdain recommendation is one that’s well thought out and doesn’t skimp on experience in any facet. While Bourdain’s dining recommendations run the gamut from street food to Michelin-starred fine dining degustations, his favourite hotels are solidly planted on the luxury side of things.

From the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles which the travel writer and chef famously deemed the hotel room he’d die in if forced to choose, to his go-to outpost in his favourite city (Tokyo!), these are the best hotels Anthony Bourdain has stayed in — add them to your travel list, stat.

1. Park Hyatt Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Ever seen Lost in Translation? Well, the Park Hyatt Tokyo was the site of Scarlett Johanssen and Bill Murray’s moody rendezvous. The Japanese capital is one of Anthony Bourdain’s favourite cities in the world. “If I had to die mid-meal anywhere, it would be Tokyo,” the travel writer told the National Geographic. “If you were to ask most chefs if they had to have house arrest for the rest of their life in one city and eat all of their meals there, just about everyone I know would pick Tokyo.”

Fortunately, Bourdain’s sojourns in Tokyo were nowhere near as morbid as his language would suggest, with the Land of the Rising Sun serving as the location for the debut episode of his television show A Cook’s Tour. In addition to sweeping views of the city and Mount Fuji, Park Hyatt Tokyo offers an elegant respite from the bustle of the city, with expansive suites, an indoor lap pool and fitness centre, a greenery-filled lounge, and a suite of acclaimed restaurants. 

Related: The 10 Best Hotels In Kyoto Blend Old & New

2. Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong)

Anthony Bourdain’s base camp in one of the best food cities in the world is an obvious choice. Located right in the thick of things, the Mandarin Oriental has both history and reputation on its side. However, it doesn’t rest on its laurels, consistently ranking within the top three hotels in Hong Kong. A convergence of exemplary lodging, dining—no less than three of the hotel’s dining establishments have been bestowed with Michelin stars—and wellness offerings, not to mention impeccable service, it’s easy to see why Mandarin Oriental was Bourdain’s hotel of choice in Hong Kong.

3. Hotel Continental Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Staying within Asia for a moment, Vietnam is another country that held a special place in Anthony Bourdain’s heart. His go-to hotel when in the country’s most populous city? Hotel Continental Saigon; built in 1880, it holds the accolade of being Vietnam’s first and oldest hotel. Bourdain loves it “for the history.”

4. Hotel Metropole (Hanoi, Vietnam)

That said, in the Vietnamese capital, Anthony Bourdain’s favourite hotel was the Hotel Metropole. The travel writer claimed he stayed there because English writer Graham Greene—author of The Quiet American—did the same in 1951 while working for Paris Match. Any suite within the French colonial building makes for a good stay, but fellow The Quiet American fans would do well to check into the Graham Greene suite, which features a separate living room and newly renovated art deco bathrooms.

5. Chiltern Firehouse (London, England)

“Pretty much perfection,” is how Boudain surmised the experience at London’s Chiltern Firehouse. Owned by the same group responsible for Chateau Marmont, the converted Victorian firehouse holds court in the stylish neighbourhood of Marylebone. A notorious celebrity hangout, the character-laden luxury hotel boasts comfortable, well-appointed rooms and one of the most beautiful dining venues in the city.

Related: The 11 Best Country Hotels In The UK

6. The Raleigh (Miami, United States)

“The pool. The pool!” Bourdain once wrote about this Miami institution. Indeed, the pool at The Raleigh is one worth lauding, however don’t overlook its art deco decor and upscale vibe. Rooms are relatively compact, but you’re afforded a slice of peace while being a short walk away from the South Beach nightlife. Plus, it’s Miami; who stays in anyway?

7. Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

“I’m a sucker for grand, colonial-era hotels in Asia,” Bourdain once wrote. Naturally, over in Cambodia, another colonial era hotel is Bourdain’s billet of choice. With its imposing whitewashed facade and commitment to symmetry, the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor in Siem Reap is a quintessential embodiment of colonial architecture. A respite within the heart of the ancient city—and a stone’s throw from the ruins of the Angkor Wat—Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor combines historic architecture with Asian traditions and modern amenities.

8. Hotel Oloffson (Port-au-Prince, Haiti)

While a list of Anthony Bourdain’s favourite hotels is in no shortage of luxury options, the travel writer didn’t simply select luxury for luxury’s sake. Instead, he gravitated towards character-rich lodgings rooted in time and place. Case in point: the “sagging, creaky, and leaky but awesome” Hotel Oloffson in Haiti. The 19th-century gothic hotel is a ticket to the past, pairing an old world facade with a slightly eerie yet still decidedly luxurious vibe.

9. Edgewater Hotel (Seattle, United States)

Seattle’s only waterfront hotel, Edgewater Hotel marries stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, Elliott Bay, and the city with cosy vibes and a healthy dose of rock ‘n’ roll charm. In addition to being a favourite of Bourdain’s, it’s also been a stopping point for the likes of The Beatles, Pearl Jam, The Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, and Neil Young, so you’re among good company. Featured on The Layover, Bourdain actually—successfully!—fished out the window of his room at the Edgewater Hotel. How’s that for on the water?

10. Hotel de Russie (Rome, Italy)

Close to the Spanish steps and all the main sights of central Rome, the Hotel de Russie manages to create a world of its own. From the courtyard and the dining room to the suites upstairs, every element of this institution is a visual feast. The service is matched, with the concierge staff able to fulfil pretty much any and every request you can think of.

Bourdain recommends this one for when you want to “blow it out and live large…and pay big time for the privilege.” Sounds good to us.

11. Fullerton Singapore (Singapore)

“If you want to do the whole old-world British colonial thing,” says Bourdain. The Fullerton Singapore’s colonial charm is perfectly paired with an ideal location, with the entire hotel perched on the Singapore River. Book one of the waterfront rooms with a balcony for the quintessential Fullerton Singapore experience, but don’t forget to venture out and explore the nearby hawker’s markets for some of the best food in town.

12. Grand Hyatt Singapore (Singapore)

Alternatively, Bourdain also knows you can’t go wrong with the Grand Hyatt. Nestled in the upscale Orchard Road district, Bourdain recommends a visit to one of the several dining establishments in the hotel. “All the dishes at ‘Straits Kitchen are authentic and made from scratch,” he notes. “They bring in specialists for this stuff.”

13. Hazlitt’s (London, England)

No room service, no minibar, but a Bourdain favourite: “It is like staying at a potty English uncle’s when he is not at home.” Despite a (somewhat roundabout) recommendation from one of the most famous travellers himself, Hazlitt’s remains one of London’s best kept secrets. Offering accommodation only, it differentiates itself with its old world Georgian interiors and old-fashioned hospitality.

14. Chateau Marmont (Los Angeles, United States)

“If I have to die in a hotel room, let it be here,” Bourdain once exclaimed. “I will work in LA just to stay at the Chateau!” Now, while this isn’t the hotel where the renowned chef and travel writer actually passed away, Bourdain’s words served to further cement its iconic status — one that had already been laid out by a continuous flow of celebrity sightings and pop culture mentions over the past century. 

But, if you ask us, the Chateau Marmont does seem like a pretty good final resting place indeed.


Words by Theo Rosen